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| Once Upon a Time in China | |
|---|---|
| Traditional | 黃飛鴻 |
| Simplified | 黄飞鸿 |
| Mandarin | Huáng Fēihóng |
| Cantonese | Wong4 Fei1-hung4 |
| Directed by | Tsui Hark |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark |
| Written by | Tsui Hark Yuen Kai-chi (阮繼志) Leung Yiu-ming Elsa Tang (鄧碧燕) |
| Starring | Jet Li Yuen Biao Jacky Cheung Rosamund Kwan Kent Cheng |
| Music by | James Wong George Lam (theme song) |
| Cinematography | Ardy Lam Bill Wong David Chung Arthur Wong Wingo Chan Wilson Chan |
| Edited by | Marco Mak |
| Production company | Golden Harvest Paragon Films Film Workshop |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest |
| Release date | 15 August 1991 |
| Running time | 134 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin English French |
| Box office | HK$29,672,278.00 |
Once Upon a Time in China is a 1991 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, starringJet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the first installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series.
The film is set in Foshan, China sometime in the late 19th century during the Qing dynasty. Liu Yongfu, the commander of the Black Flag Army, invites Wong Fei-hung on board his ship to watch a lion dance. Some sailors on board a nearby French ship hear the sound of firecrackers and mistakenly think that Liu’s ship is opening fire at them, so they return fire and injure the dancers. Wong picks up the lion head and finishes the performance. Liu comments about the perilous situation China is in, and then gives Wong a hand fan inscribed with all the unequal treaties signed between China and other countries.
Once Upon a Time in China was released in Hong Kong on 15 August 1991. The film was a box office hit and is largely credited with starting the period martial arts craze of the early to mid 1990s. It ran for almost two months, the longest duration for any of the series, and grossed $29,672,278 HKD in Hong Kong.
Once Upon a Time in China was given highly favorable reviews from film critics.[ Rotten Tomatoes reported a score of 88%.
Awards and nominations
| Awards and nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Name | Outcome |
| 11th Hong Kong Film Awards | |||
| Best Film | Once Upon a Time in China | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Tsui Hark | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Jacky Cheung | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Marco Mak | Won | |
| Best Cinematographer | Ardy Lam, Bill Wong, David Chung, Arthur Wong, Wingo Chan, Wilson Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Yee Chung-Man | Nominated | |
| Best Action Choreography | Yuen Cheung-yan, Yuen Shun-yee, Lau Kar-wing | Won | |
| Best Original Film Score | James Wong | Won |
| Once Upon a Time in China II | |
|---|---|
| Japanese film poster | |
| Traditional | 黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強 |
| Simplified | 黄飞鸿之二男儿当自强 |
| Mandarin | Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Èr Nánér Dāng Zìqiáng |
| Cantonese | Wong Fei-hung Zi Ji Naam ji4 Dong1 Zi6-koeng4 |
| Directed by | Tsui Hark |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark Ng See-yuen Raymond Chow |
| Written by | Tsui Hark Chan Tin-suen Cheung Tan |
| Starring | Jet Li Rosamund Kwan Max Mok Donnie Yen |
| Music by | Richard Yuen Johnny Yeung Chow Gam-wing |
| Cinematography | Arthur Wong |
| Edited by | Marco Mak Angie Lam Andy Chan |
| Production company | Film Workshop Golden Harvest Paragon Films Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest |
| Release date | 16 April 1992 |
| Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin English |
| Box office | HK$30,399,676[ |
Once Upon a Time in China II is a 1992 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, and starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the second instalment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. The iconic theme song, A Man Should Better Himself (男兒當自強), was performed in Cantonese by George Lam at the beginning of the film, and by Jackie Chan in the end credits. (Chan also sang the Mandarin version.)
| Once Upon a Time in China III | |
|---|---|
| Film poster | |
| Traditional | 黃飛鴻之三獅王爭霸 |
| Simplified | 黄飞鸿之三狮王争霸 |
| Mandarin | Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Sān Shīwáng Zhēngbà |
| Cantonese | Wong4 Fei1-hung4 Zi1Saam1 Si1-wong4Zaang1-baa3 |
| Directed by | Tsui Hark |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark Ng See-yuen |
| Written by | Tsui Hark Cheung Tan Chan Tin-suen |
| Starring | Jet Li Rosamund Kwan Max Mok Lau Shun |
| Music by | William Hu Tsui Hark |
| Cinematography | Andrew Lau Chow Man-keung |
| Edited by | Marco Mak Angie Lam |
| Production company | Film Workshop Paragon Films Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest Gala Film Distribution Ltd. |
| Release date | 11 February 1993 |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin English Russian |
| Box office | HK$27,540,561.00[ |
Once Upon a Time in China III is a 1993 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the third instalment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series.
The film is set in China in the late 19th century during the Qing dynasty when Chinese sovereignty is being eroded by foreign imperialism. Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Hongzhang decide to stage a lion dance competition to showcaseChinese martial arts and restore national pride. Interested parties from all over China are invited to participate and compete for the title of “Lion Dance King”.
With the aid of a camera given to her by Tomanovsky, 13th Aunt inadvertently uncovers a plot to assassinate Li Hongzhang during the competition and learns that Tomanovsky is one of the conspirators. She warns Wong, who joins the contest to stop the assassins. In the final round of the competition, Wong, Leung and Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat fight with dozens of rival lion dancers as they battle their way to the top of a scaffold. Chiu also joins the competition and carries a large and deadly lion mask. Wong ultimately defeats Chiu and wins the competition.
| Once Upon a Time in China IV | |
|---|---|
| Film poster | |
| Traditional | 黃飛鴻之四王者之風 |
| Simplified | 黄飞鸿之四王者之风 |
| Mandarin | Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Sì Wáng Zhě Zhī Fēng |
| Cantonese | Wong Fei-hung ZiSei Wong Ze Zi Fung |
| Directed by | Yuen Bun |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark Ng See-yuen |
| Written by | Tsui Hark Tang Pik-yin |
| Starring | Vincent Zhao Jean Wang Max Mok Hung Yan-yan |
| Music by | William Hu |
| Cinematography | Arthur Wong Ko Chiu-lam Chow Man-keung Cheung Man-po |
| Edited by | Marco Mak |
| Production company | Film Workshop Paragon Films Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest Gala Film Distribution Ltd. |
| Release date | 10 June 1993 |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin English German |
| Box office | HK$11,301,790.00 |
Once Upon a Time in China IV is a 1993 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film and the fourth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It was directed by Yuen Bun and produced by Tsui Hark, who directed the first three films. Vincent Zhao starred as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, who was portrayed by Jet Li in the first three films.
The film is set in Beijing, China in 1900 during the Qing dynasty. Wong Fei-hung plans to return to Foshan with his father Wong Kei-ying and apprentices Leung Foon and Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat. He also meets 14th Aunt, 13th Aunt‘s sister, who has a romantic crush on him.
| Once Upon a Time in China V | |
|---|---|
| Film poster | |
| Traditional | 黃飛鴻之五龍城殲霸 |
| Simplified | 黄飞鸿之五龙城歼霸 |
| Mandarin | Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Wǔ Lóng Chéng Jiān Bà |
| Cantonese | Wong4 Fei1-hung4 Zi1Ng5 Lung4 Sing4 Cim1Baa3 |
| Directed by | Tsui Hark |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark Ng See-yuen |
| Written by | Tsui Hark Lau Daai-muk Lam Kee-to |
| Starring | Vincent Zhao Rosamund Kwan Max Mok |
| Music by | Tsui Hark |
| Cinematography | Ko Chiu-Lam Derek Wan Peter Pau Tak-Hai Tom Lau Ardy Lam |
| Edited by | Marco Mak |
| Production company | Film Workshop Paragon Films Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest |
| Release date | 17 November 1994 |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin English |
| Box office | HK$4,902,426.00[ |
Once Upon a Time in China V is a 1994 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts action film written and directed by Tsui Hark. The film is the fifth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series, with Vincent Zhao reprising his role as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, since taking over the character from Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China IV. The film also saw the return of Hark as director (he only co-wrote and produced the fourth film) and of Rosamund Kwan as “13th Aunt“, who was absent in the fourth film.
Despite receiving more positive reviews than Once Upon a Time in China IV, the fifth in the series performed poorly at the Hong Kong box office, grossing only HK$4,902,426.
| Once Upon a Time in China and America | |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong film poster | |
| Traditional | 黃飛鴻之西域雄獅 |
| Simplified | 黄飞鸿之西域雄狮 |
| Mandarin | Huáng Fēihǒng Zhī Xīyù Xíongshī |
| Cantonese | Wong Fei-hung Zi Sai-waak Hung-si |
| Directed by | Sammo Hung Lau Kar-wing |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark |
| Written by | Sze-to Cheuk-hon Shut Mei-yee Sharon Hui Philip Kwok So Man-sing |
| Starring | Jet Li Rosamund Kwan Hung Yan-yan Jeff Wolfe Power Chan |
| Music by | Lowell Lo |
| Cinematography | Walter Gregg Lam Fai-tai Koo Kwok-wah |
| Edited by | Marco Mak Angie Lam |
| Production company | Win’s Entertainment Film Workshop |
| Distributed by | China Star Entertainment Group |
| Release date | 1 February 1997 |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin English |
| Box office | HK$30,268,415.00 |
Once Upon a Time in China and America, also known as Once Upon a Time in China VI, is a 1997 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film directed by Lau Kar-wing and Sammo Hung in his last directorial effort until The Bodyguard,[c who also worked on the film’s fight choreography. The film is the sixth and final installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It also saw the return of Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, who was replaced by Vincent Zhao in the fourth and fifth films. The film was released in the Hong Kong on 1 February 1997.
Wong Fei-hung, Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat and “13th Aunt” cross the Pacific Ocean to America to visit Bucktooth So, who has opened a Po-chi-lam clinic there. While traveling by carriage through the wilderness, they pick up a friendly cowboy named Billy, who is almost dying of thirst. When the party stops to have lunch, a bunch of hostile Native Americans ambush them. Wong, Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat and 13th Aunt escape unharmed but their carriage slides off a cliff and falls into a river. 13th Aunt and Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat are rescued and taken to Bucktooth So’s clinic. However, Wong hits his head on a rock and loses his memory as a consequence. He is saved by a Native American tribe.
Back in town, the mayor makes oppressive rules with the intention of causing trouble for the Chinese people living there, while Billy tries to stop him. Meanwhile, the tribe that rescues Wong encounters a more powerful rival tribe. The rival leader, a fearsome warrior, injures Fierce Eagle (the chief’s son) on Wong’s side. However, to everyone’s surprise, Wong defeats the rival leader and half of his men with his kung-fu, causing the rival tribe to flee in fear. Wong is eventually brought back to the town where his companions attempt to help him recall his past.
When Wong finally regains his memory, he forgets everything that has happened during the period when he suffered from amnesia. In the meantime, the mayor is in debt and decides to hire a Mexican bandit to help him rob the bank, so that he can abscond the town with a ton of cash. The robbery is successful and the mayor frames the people in Po-chi-lam for it. Wong and the others are arrested and almost hanged. Just then, the Mexican bandit discovers that the mayor has paid him US$400,000 less, so he returns to town to claim his money. In the ensuing fight, the mayor is killed and Wong manages to capture the bandit to clear his name. At the end of the film, Billy is elected as the new mayor while Wong, 13th Aunt and Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat return to China.
The film was shot at the Alamo Village, the film set originally created for John Wayne‘s The Alamo.
Awards and nominations
| Awards and nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
| 17th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Action Choreography | Sammo Hung | Nominated |
Jet Li‘s return to the series – and, in all likelihood, the final installment of the franchise – opened on the weekend of Chinese New Year, and faced stiff competition from director Hung’s own film, Mr. Nice Guy. Still, it grossed an excellent HK$30,268,415 at the Hong Kong box office.
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